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The Real Witches’ Garden: Spells, Herbs, Plants and Magical Spaces Outdoors
Kate West
A guide to the outdoor world and nature-based spirituality for real witches everywhere. Kate West explains how to set up your own sacred space in the garden and how to grow herbs for use in spells and remedies. The Real Witches' Garden is a practical guide to witchcraft in the garden – whether you have 20 acres or a window box!Contents:• Nature based spirituality – Witchcraft by another name.• How the garden fits into your life and your Craft.• The garden as a sacred space for working ritual.• The elemental garden – earth, air, fire, water and spirit.• The garden as a medicine store – herbs and herbal remedies.• The smallest of gardens – window boxes, pots and containers.• Plant associations – a list of plants relating to various aspects of the Craft.• Planting and tending by the natural cycles – the lunar calendar and the wheel of the year.



THE REAL WITCHES’ GARDEN



KATE WEST



COPYRIGHT (#ulink_3a8fd046-e33c-5f87-b4cf-56bb554d9c4c)


Note to the reader The remedies and techniques in this book are not meant to be a substitute for professional medical care and treatment. They should not be used to treat a serious ailment without prior consultation with a qualified healthcare professional. Neither the publisher nor the author accepts any responsibility for how you choose to handle and use the herbs described in this book.
Element
An Imprint of HarperCollinsPublishers 1 London Bridge Street London SE1 9GF
www.harpercollins.co.uk (http://www.harpercollins.co.uk)
and Element are trademarks of HarperCollinsPublishers Limited
Published by Element 2004
© Kate West, 2004
Kate West asserts the moral right to be identified as the author of this work
Text illustrations by Chris Down
A catalogue record for this book is available from the British Library
All rights reserved under International and Pan-American Copyright Conventions. By payment of the required fees, you have been granted the nonexclusive, nontransferable right to access and read the text of this e-book on-screen. No part of this text may be reproduced, transmitted, downloaded, decompiled, reverse engineered, or stored in or introduced into any information storage and retrieval system, in any form or by any means, whether electronic or mechanical, now known or hereinafter invented, without the express written permission of HarperCollins e-books.


Source ISBN: 9780007163229
Ebook Edition © FEBRUARY 2016 ISBN 9780007397280
Version: 2016-01-06
HarperCollinsPublishers has made every reasonable effort to ensure that any picture content and written content in this ebook has been included or removed in accordance with the contractual and technological constraints in operation at the time of publication.

DEDICATION (#ulink_38f86af0-7156-508d-9645-ed9b96e1456b)


This book is dedicated toMags who returned to the Goddessin February 2003. Her friendship and her presence in theCraft are sorely missed.
‘May we meet and know love once again.’

CONTENTS


Cover (#ub1fd9d77-b52a-5689-97fc-a7d3f96bd7a0)
Title Page (#ub12a3e67-6076-5398-af03-cba161afa210)
Copyright (#u6878b2bc-1192-5f45-a55f-e9e9c771b4a2)
Dedication (#u4889d643-be3b-504b-9f92-f54679d00e73)
From the Author (#u64da415b-6f33-5dcc-bc1e-b43309e33ecc)
ONE: A Nature-Based Belief System (#ufb2193c1-b023-587a-9b7f-c10a23c36bd1)
TWO: A Space for Living and the Craft (#ubedcd500-f075-531d-ab65-d6a601966856)
THREE: The Garden as your Sacred Space (#ue74db191-ddef-56e5-b9ff-75c67647e956)
FOUR: The Garden for the Goddess and the God (#ua39f14d1-9426-5836-842d-1e71f78d1471)
FIVE: The Elemental Garden (#litres_trial_promo)
SIX: The Garden of Spells and Magic (#litres_trial_promo)
SEVEN: The Medicinal Garden (#litres_trial_promo)
EIGHT: The Seasonal Garden (#litres_trial_promo)
NINE: Tiny and Indoor Gardens (#litres_trial_promo)
TEN: Plants for Magic (#litres_trial_promo)
ELEVEN: Lunar Gardening and Plant Care (#litres_trial_promo)
TWELVE: The Magic Primer (#litres_trial_promo)
Appendix ONE: What Witchcraft Really is! (#litres_trial_promo)
Appendix TWO: Terms and Definitions (#litres_trial_promo)
Appendix THREE: Take it from here … (#litres_trial_promo)
Keep Reading (#litres_trial_promo)
Index (#litres_trial_promo)
Acknowledgements (#litres_trial_promo)
About the Publisher (#litres_trial_promo)

FROM THE AUTHOR (#ulink_3907a4a5-36a3-5db2-897c-af314d33d872)


Merry Meet!
If I were to ask you to describe a Witch’s garden you would probably envisage climbers growing up the walls of a thatched cottage, a profuse array of colourful and traditional country-cottage-type plants, and herbs to tend all kinds of ailments. But the reality is often nowhere near the dream. For just as Witches appear just like everyone else, so their gardens are as varied as those of other people. They could be large or small; they may be a scrap of concrete, a window box or just the kitchen windowsill. They are often overlooked by neighbours, close to busy roads and shared with children and pets. We describe Witchcraft as a nature-based spirituality, but most of us do not live in an ideal rural idyll with a scenic cottage and enough land, let alone time, to have an established garden full of healing herbs and ‘witchy’ plants. We have busy lives with many commitments and little time to tend and love our herbs and plants. Whilst our Craft seeks to be one with the elements and the land, our personal ‘land’ may be a small scrap of ill-lit soggy soil, a wilderness of rocks and concrete, and full of discarded toys or the evidence of a love of dogs and cats! As Witches we seek to live as a part of the world, not apart from it, and hence we must be realistic. However, we can make the most of what we have, and tend it with a love of the land and of the Goddess, rather than wishing and waiting for some kind of ideal.
Firstly, let me say that this is not a gardening book in the usual way. Here I am not talking about ‘how to garden’; making fertilizer, landscaping, installing water features, cement and decking, but rather how to make the most of your garden. How to use it as a part of your Craft, to make it a sacred place in its own right. A place where you can meet your Gods, where you can grow plants to help you work your magic. A place where you can pre-pay and repay the Goddess and the God, and the land, for what you take and are given. There will be ways of using your garden to enhance your Craft and ways of using your Craft to enhance your garden. Yes, there will be suggestions on what to plant, and how you might like to arrange them, but in the context of working from what you have, rather than creating a whole new outdoors!


Those of you who do have the luxury of being able to make a fresh start, in the fashion of so many modern gardening programmes, will be able to use the ideas here, but those of you with constraints on what you can do will still be able to take the ideas that do fit and discard the rest.
Whilst I have given some plant suggestions I am aware that, with a readership which includes the whole of the English-speaking world, you may not be able to grow the same things. So I have tried to give ideas of the types of plant rather than always being specific. It is my hope that, whatever your kind of soil type, climate, landscape, etc, you will be able to make use of this book. I also hope that you will try to do so using plants native to your area, as these are the ones with a magical connection to your land, your Goddesses and your Gods.
Let me also say that, in my life I have had the pleasure of keeping gardens of all shapes, sizes and conditions. These include a moderate-sized rural near-idyll, a walled but landscaped and shared green patch, many windowsills, 30 square feet of shaded concrete in an area of heavy industrial pollution, a landscaped, gravelled and decked modern travesty of the concept of contact with the earth, and just recently over 180 square metres of untended land given over to thistles! I’ve also worked in gardens where the concept of natural growth has been allowed to run riot, those with enough clay to start a decent-sized pottery, others where the half inch of topsoil covers several tons of concrete and rubble, and even one where the soil was made of, just for once, real growing-type earth! I’ve also shared my garden with dogs, cats, ardent sunbathers and various other life forms.
In this book I hope to incorporate ideas for all types of garden, or growing area, in ways which are compatible with having a full and busy life. Ways of being at one with the land, of sharing it with our near and dear, and still being able to work it in honour of the Goddess and the God. I will include lists of plants and herbs, not so that you can rush out and buy them all, but so that you can choose those which are most applicable to your life, your needs and your Craft.
And just as you can use your garden to celebrate and enhance your Craft, so too you can use magic to enhance your garden. Not everyone, not even those who practise the Craft, is blessed with ‘green fingers’, so here I shall also look at the magics you can work to enhance your ‘green life’: the seasons and times for the best results; spells for sowing, planting and growing, to protect delicate plants, to deter pests and even to influence the weather a little; the Goddesses and Gods who might look more favourably on your piece of the earth. This book is not intended to be the ultimate answer to all your gardening queries, but rather a starting point to blending what you have with what you would like.
As with all the other Real Witches’ books this one is written for real people with real, busy lives who probably don’t have huge amounts of time or money to spend on their gardens but who still want to become closer to the earth. Even if you have no interest in the Craft at all I hope that this book will be of interest to the gardener who seeks a more natural approach to what is, for some, our only work with nature.
Blessed Be
Kate



ONE A NATURE-BASED BELIEF SYSTEM (#ulink_54f41331-3242-5984-a746-038187a9ea89)


I call on Earth to bind my spell, Air to speed its passage well. Bright as fire shall it glow, And deep as ocean’s tides shall flow. Count the elements fourfold, For in the Fifth the spell shall hold. Blessed Be.


Why Witches and gardening? Witchcraft is often described as a nature-based spirituality but what does that mean? Well, early Witches would have worked and tended the land, cared for and healed the people and the livestock. Their daily lives and their magical work would have been for the prosperity and the future of their community. Indeed, it is in part from this that the traditional festivals, the Sabbats, came about. For in amongst the meanings of those festivals is a strong and continuing link to the Wheel of the Year and the seasons which form its basis. For me this was one of the key attractions of the Craft.
One of the ways of looking at the Sabbats is to refer them directly to the passage of the seasons. Very simply we can say that:


Samhain (31 October) marks the start of the resting season and is the harbinger of Winter whilst Yule (21 December) marks the onset of that season. Imbolg (2 February) brings the first buds and shoots rising through the frozen earth as a promise of the Spring which begins in earnest at Oestara (21 March). Beltane (1 May) when the hawthorn blossoms presages Summer and Litha (21 June) marks its beginning. Lughnasadh (1 August) is the first of the harvest, which reaches its height at Madron (21 September), the start of Autumn.


In the Craft we refer to the Sabbats collectively as the Wheel of the Year. In addition, each of these festivals is linked to the yearly cycles of the Goddess and the God. The Triple Goddess moves from Mother to Crone at Samhain, from Crone to Maiden at Imbolg, and from Maiden to Mother at Beltane. The God as her Consort moves alongside her through these changes as well as being the Oak and Holly Kings which preside over the lightening and darkening halves of the year from Yule to Litha and Litha to Yule, respectively.


Not only do we celebrate the passage of the seasons but we draw our magical energy from them; Spring is a time of beginnings, Summer a time of development, Autumn the season of reaping and Winter is the time of rest. Of course from an agricultural perspective, that same seasonality tells us when to sow, tend, harvest and rest the soil. Whether from the perspective of the Witch or that of the gardener, the cycles which Witches celebrate as the Wheel of the Year and the phases of the Moon link everything together. There is a proper time for everything, and everything has its season.
The Magics that Witches work now, as in the past, draw their energies directly from the elements of Air, Fire, Water and Earth, all of which are required to create growth and which, when imbued with the fifth element of Spirit, form the foundation of the Craft as well as our magic. Even the most non-natural magic, such as a working to keep your car on the road, derives its power from the energies of the elements. As the spell at the start of the chapter states, the elements are the key to working magic. Without true knowledge and understanding of them it is not possible to work effective magic or to be an effective Witch. And there is no simpler or more natural way to gain that knowledge and understanding than by working with the elements in their most immediate form. For Witches, these are not just the external elements as seen in nature – wind, sun, rain and soil – but also the way those elements are part of ourselves and everything we do. Air is our thoughts, Fire our passions and enthusiasms, Water our emotions and Earth our physical selves. Spirit is the essential ‘self’ as well as the Goddess and the God both within and without. For us to understand and care for ourselves and each other, to develop and grow as individuals, and to work the magics which enhance the lives of our loved ones and our own community, we must harness and balance these elements, both within and without. This is a path of personal exploration, understanding and development which Witches use in all aspects of their daily lives, but perhaps nowhere more so than in their tending of life, whether it be in plants and the soil or in their relationships with family, friends and their wider community of the Craft.
The fifth element of Spirit is personified in the tales, legends and stories of the Goddess and the God, so many of whom are in turn linked to the fertility of the land, the crops, animals and people. From Amalthea, Goddess of plenty, to Zisa of the harvest, the Goddess is inextricably linked to fertility and growth. In her Lunar cycle of Maiden, Mother and Crone we think of her as planting, tending and reaping the life of the people, animals and the land. The God too holds these roles, the Horned God and the Corn King being probably the most obvious examples. There are Gods and Goddesses of sowing and planting, reaping and gathering, and of every kind of plant and animal, from belief systems of almost all times around the world (see here (#litres_trial_promo) for some of these). Actually getting into contact with the elements and the soil brings special benefits in terms of direct contact with the Goddess and the God. Nowhere can you be closer to your Gods than when you are in touch with the life force that flows through the land than when you experience the elements in action, and when you can see the results of their magic which is the life of the land. And nowhere can you come to a greater understanding of the cycles of life, death and rebirth than when working with nature.
One of the other traditional key skills of the Witch is that of herbalist and healer. Witches have long been respected for their knowledge of healing plants and herbs, and many of these ancient remedies are being reintroduced into our daily lives now that the remedies of aromatherapy, homeopathy, etc, are becoming more readily available. Most practising Witches and other herbal therapists know, however, that these remedies are always better when they can be home-grown. And this is just another of the reasons why even the most urban of Witches feels the need to have some kind of practical connection with the earth.
There is another facet of the Craft which links practising Witches to the land and that is in the often forgotten relationship between the practise of magic and the payment for it. As the magic of Witches is worked in balance with the energies of the elements, as well as our personal energies, we must also look to returning something in kind. This is not just a question of repaying what we have been given, i.e. when the magic works, but should also take the form of pre-payment for what we might seek in the future. Whilst this can take the form of tending for the people in our lives and generally upholding the principles of the Craft, many Witches, myself among them, advocate actually working towards repaying nature itself. As I have mentioned in my other books, you could go to a local park or beauty spot and remove the debris and litter left by others, put food out for wild birds, or support an animal charity. But one of the most effective ways is to work the soil and to tend plants. Whilst you could do this in a local park or beauty spot, it is far more immediate and personally satisfying if you can do it in your own space, even if that space is restricted to a couple of pot plants on the windowsill.
But Witches do not just think of the tending of the garden in connection with the Craft. We use our gardens for the practice and enhancement of it. If we are fortunate and not too overlooked, we will be able to hold our Sabbat and Esbat (Full Moon) Rituals there. Casting the Circle outside, amongst the living reality of the Divine, adds a special dimension to our celebrations and workings. It enhances the magic. Even if we cannot practise obvious Rituals in the garden, we can still work our magic there; planting and growing spells, using the remedies that nature provides. We also use our gardens for contemplation, meditation and to grow closer to our Gods. And we find that, through being active and out there on the land we learn more about our Craft, and about healing not only the physical, but also the emotional and spiritual ills in our lives. Furthermore, being outside gives us the opportunity to get to know and understand more about the other living things we share our world with. Through observing the life around us, even if it’s only a few sparrows and pigeons, we get to appreciate the natural cycles and rhythms in our own lives.


The aspects of the Craft covered in this book are those which relate directly to the care and use of the garden. For those of you for whom this is your first book on Witchcraft there is a fuller introduction and a selection of recommended reading in the appendices at the back of this book. Otherwise, let us move on to see how your garden can enhance your Craft and how the Craft can enhance your garden.



TWO A SPACE FOR LIVING AND THE CRAFT (#ulink_d38d4655-8bc4-5296-8d7f-b85f8d56e614)


For many people the garden is the place where they go on the sunnier days of the year. It is a place for occasional barbecues, to have a drink with friends, perhaps to sunbathe or to banish the children when they get too noisy in the house. A few use it to grow herbs and perhaps vegetables for the kitchen. Many will use it to dry laundry, store bicycles and other outdoor equipment. For a Witch, the garden is all this and more. It is our piece of earth, our contact with nature, with the Goddess, the God and the Elements. It is where we grow healing herbs and plants to incorporate into our natural remedies and where we grow the sometimes quite toxic ingredients for inclusion in our incenses and magical spells. It is where we make payment for our magics and where we seek to do our part to enrich the cycle of life and living. It is where we honour the Goddess and the God in the most practical way we can, by tending their creation. It is where we work our Rituals to honour them and where we can work magics in their name, and also where we come to know and understand them through meditation and relaxation. It is where we can actually experience the cycles of the seasons and find the natural indicators for the Sabbats, where we can observe the phases of the Moon and where we can really get to know and understand the cycles of life, death and rebirth. In all of this it is also a place where we recharge our batteries, drawing energy from the earth itself and from our experience of the elements and their part in the rich pageant of growth. The Witches’ garden can also be where we seek to preserve endangered plants and provide a refuge for wildlife. To a Witch, the garden is more than an outdoor room, it is a permanent Sacred Space in its own right, even when being used to hang the washing or amuse the young.


The first thing you need to do is to work out what you really have, what you want and need from it, and what you actually can do. Yes, I currently have a reasonable-sized garden but this is a rented property and so, because it is not truly mine, there are limitations on what I can and cannot do to it. I cannot cut down any trees, move the drive, nor replace the gravelled surface with the thyme and chamomile lawn I would so dearly love to have. Furthermore, I have a young son, so anything I do has to respect his need for a play area, or accept the devastation that a quick game of football might do to my carefully hatched plans! You also almost certainly have constraints on what you can do. These may be like mine, imposed from outside, or they might be the views of other family members, those of nature herself or personal ones like the amount of time and effort you can afford to expend. However, whatever the limitations there is always some kind of way around them. So let us look at some of these issues and some of the potential solutions.

WHAT DO YOU REALLY WANT TO USE IT FOR?


In the following chapters I shall look more closely at some of the ways of actually using your garden as a Sacred Space, a space for working magic and celebrating the Sabbats; a place of contemplation and meditation, to grow herbs and other useful plants; a place dedicated to your favourite or personal deities; even a place where you can introduce your children to a love of nature. But you also need to take into account the non-Craft activities you enjoy. If you like sunbathing, then you will need an unshaded space to stretch out in. If you want to hold summer barbecues, then a place where you will not set fire to, or scorch, your plants is essential. If, like me, the winter wind howls across the landscape, then you will need to retain a windbreak hedge. To help you to plan the potential uses of your garden, write a month by month list of the sorts of things you want to do outside, the difficulties they pose and your ideas for solutions. You may find you come up with some difficulties to which you cannot think of an answer. Don’t despair, keep your list for a few months while you look around, watch TV gardening programmes and read books; it can be surprising how much inspiration the Goddess will provide to the patient.

HOW MUCH SPACE DO YOU HAVE?


If you have a reasonable-sized garden, that is well and good, but for those of you with little or no outdoors of your own, try to consider the following: Do you have room to securely fix one or more window boxes? Can you use indoor windowsills? Can you place a table or perhaps a bookcase in front of a window and use that space? If you have a light room, could you perhaps denote a corner or patch to be an indoor garden area? Perhaps you could even transform a gloomy corner. When it comes to the garden as a part of your Craft you do not need much – a reasonable-sized tub on a waterproof dish, or a couple of pots on your windowsill can easily be enough. Chapter 9 focuses on the non-existent, or almost non-existent, garden.

WHAT IS IT CURRENTLY BEING USED FOR?


One of the problems of a garden is that it quickly becomes a multifunctional area, often to the detriment of its garden aspect. Parked cars, secured bikes, children’s toys, washing lines, dustbins and so on all take from your natural space. Not that these things aren’t compatible with growing things and celebrating the Craft, but you may need to give some thought to maximizing your usable space. This could be as simple, if not always easy, as encouraging others to put their things away. On the other hand you might like to think about finding ways of storing things more sympathetically; hooks in a garage, or a storage ‘bin’ into which odds and ends can be packed. One of my somewhat unusual solutions lies in having a large second-hand filing cabinet in the garage. This stores, in a vertical rather than horizontal space, a wide miscellany of outdoor toys, gardening bits and things we have no use for, but are reluctant to get rid of yet! Some of the things you keep outside of the home cannot be put away, dustbins and coalbunkers for example, but they needn’t look quite so ugly. Consider planting climbers on, or in pots around, such items.

WHO ELSE USES IT?


Most of us have to share our garden in some way or another; perhaps with family members who may not practise the Craft, with children who want a play area or with pets who see it as an area of convenience! Not only that, but few of us have the luxury of complete privacy, as so many of today’s gardens are overlooked, or what takes place in them can be overheard. Whilst you can always attempt to place plants in such a way as to minimize this, you don’t want to end up with no natural light ever reaching your garden, or for that matter the windows of your home! Also give some thought to the safety aspect.
For example, ponds and toddlers, yours or visiting, don’t mix. But if you carefully fill your pond with large stones, you can still grow your water plants and keep the young ones safe. Steps, concrete or stone corners and other sharp edges are likewise a hazard to the very young, the very old and the infirm. If these features are already present, consider putting up guard rails, or other obvious identifiers. If you need them as part of your plan, think about rounded edges, or using wood instead.

HOW WILL YOUR ENVIRONMENT AND
CLIMATE AFFECT YOUR PLANS?


Soil type, weather, rainfall, drainage, pollution and so on should also be taken into account. The problems they pose are not insoluble, but give them some thought or you could end up expending a lot of energy counteracting a series of inherent conditions.
The type of soil you have will influence the kinds of plants which will grow in it. Of course you could strip off your topsoil and have it replaced, but that is somewhat extreme and not cheap! Dig a small hole about 8 inches deep and have a good look at what you’ve got. Too much clay and it will be heavy, hard to drain and may set like concrete in the Summer. Too much sand and it will drain freely and dry out quickly in hot weather. Both of these problems can be helped by digging in some organic matter. A friend of mine recently had several tons of ‘mature’ pig manure delivered free, by a farmer only too glad to get rid of it, but this is a bit extreme. Create your own quick compost by sweeping up Autumn leaves and storing them in bin liners until they get smelly. Dig this through and it will help no end. It is also a good idea to test the pH balance of the soil; you can get kits from your garden centre. If your soil is particularly acid or alkaline (chalky), try to choose plants which like these conditions, and grow others either in pots or in ‘wells’ which you have lined generously with potting compost.
Give some thought to local rainfall and the water table. If your 8-inch hole rapidly filled up with water, you’re probably in a damp zone! If in doubt, your local radio weather forecaster may be able to answer a patient enquiry, and you could ask them about hours of sunshine and average temperatures at the same time; alternatively, have a look on the Internet. Too little water is relatively easy to fix, as you can collect rainwater in a barrel and water regularly, but a damp climate will never suit plants which prefer to grow in the desert!
Spend a day tracking the amount of direct light falling onto your garden (it’s easier to do when the Sun is shining). This will tell you where best to plant sun-, or shade-, loving plants.
Take a look at the kinds of industry in your area, for about 5 miles around! If there’s anything that seems likely to produce pollution, seek out tolerant plants. Take a look at roadside growing areas around you, with a good field guide handy, for some really good clues. Also, talk to your neighbours or take a quick look over their fences, briefly to avoid embarrassment, and see what’s doing well there, to give you some ideas.

HOW WILL YOU AFFECT LOCAL WILDLIFE?


Please give a thought to local flora and fauna. Check out holes and tracks to see whether they are in use. A light dusting of cornflour will easily show up prints. Be considerate with weedkillers, insecticides, fertilizers, hedge trimmers and when digging up stuff. If you have huge amounts of weeds, or a thicket of brambles, they’re probably doing a good job of feeding birds, growing caterpillars and so on. Don’t remove these sanctuaries all in one go, plant a refuge in an inconspicuous corner, or clear a portion at a time. Rampant growth is usually good for creatures which benefit the garden, so if you banish them you may acquire all kinds of interesting problems which you could have avoided. Try to find a corner for nettles, brambles and a small heap of decaying wood, as this will attract beneficial insects.


To take your Craft into your garden, whatever it’s like, it is first important to assess what you have got and what you need from it. Being a Witch is being a part of reality so you have to take into account the physical constraints of your location, family and life, not to mention the amount of time and effort you can really devote to it. Having said that, with a little ingenuity, you can make a big difference with just a little thought and effort.
One of the ways of assessing your patch of earth is to look at those around you – if your neighbourhood is knee-deep in lavender then there’s a good chance it will grow in your garden too! Established plants in your garden and those of your neighbours will give you a good indication of soil and climate type.
If you move into a new house, and if you can possibly bear to, wait one year to see what is already in the garden. Or maybe you could ask the previous occupiers if they have any photos, as proud gardeners often do.


The following chapters contain ideas for different ways of designing and using your garden to enhance your Craft. It is not intended that you use all of these ideas, indeed you would need a vast area to do so! Rather take those which most appeal to you and will fit your garden and your life style. Feel free to adapt them, or to use them as a starting point from which to create something personal.



THREE THE GARDEN AS YOUR SACRED SPACE (#ulink_47e525bf-f0cd-5835-bcef-ada74cb7ee45)


As I have often said, Witches do not have special buildings or even rooms set aside as places of Ritual and Magic. We create our Sacred Space wherever and whenever we need it. To do this we need a clear area, large enough for the number of people who are to take part. We then invoke the elements of Air, Fire, Water and Earth and invite the Goddess and the God. When working magic, rather than simply celebrating the festivals, we also cast a Circle, which contains the energies raised until it is time to release them. At the end of our working, we then remove the Circle, banish the elements and thank the Goddess and God. It is also usual to have some kind of Altar within the Circle, onto which we place representations of the elements, the Goddess and the God, and any working tools and equipment we may need during our working. This is also cleared away at the end. However, as the Craft is a nature-based belief system, it is always nice to be able to practise at least some of it, weather permitting, outside alongside nature and the elements.
Practising the Craft outside has certain differences; obviously you do not need to take representations of the elements outside, they are there in the air, sun- and moonlight, rain and soil. The Goddess and the God are also present as they are the life force which causes everything to grow, and are seen in the cycles of life, death and rebirth which are all around. If you intend to use your garden, or a part of it, as a Sacred Space, you can therefore install and care for its components as a part of your usual gardening life. There are many levels of doing this from a complete garden makeover to the more practical placement of one or two plants and objects which are less obtrusive. Here I shall look at a few ideas for a complete makeover, but will focus more on the simpler approach.

PLANNING YOUR SACRED SPACE


In an ideal world you could have a lawn shaped as the triple moon, or as a circle with the pentagram picked out in flat stones or bricks. I even know of one garden where the owner has created a pentacle with small paving stones and has planted different plants and herbs in each of the different sections. You could also perhaps place elemental markers at the appropriate points, either plants or actual physical representations such as wind chimes in the east for Air, an outdoor flame or torch for Fire, a pond or fountain for Water in the west and a large stone in the north for Earth. This stone could also double as your Altar, or you could have a second Altar stone in the centre. If the area is not overhung with trees, or otherwise likely to suffer from fire damage, you could dig a permanent fire pit in the centre, or even have a permanent cauldron. If you wish, and can find reasonable ones, you could also place a statue of the Goddess and the God in the north of your Circle. Traditionally, the Witches’ circle is 9 feet (2.75 m) across, but if you will be working on your own it can be smaller. Around your circle you could place plants which act as screens for privacy, as well as those which are related to the elements, the Goddesses and Gods of your choice, or even those which are associated with the Wheel of the Year. Chapter 10 gives lists of plant associations.
However, most of us do not have the luxury of being able to not only start from scratch but also of being able to let our Craft dominate the use of even a part of the garden. In this case you may like to take ideas from the above and incorporate them into your existing space or use some of the following suggestions.
Firstly, you need to determine where the four quarters lie. This can be achieved precisely by using a compass, or more simply by noting where the Sun rises (in the east) and sets (west) and working from there. You do not have to be precise. In each of the quarters place a single plant in the colour of that element; yellow in the east, red in the south, blue in the west and green in the north. Of course they may well not be in flower all year round but nevertheless they will be present as reminders. If you really do not have the room to make these permanent fixtures, keep your plants in pots and put them in place only when needed. Alternatively, you could have a plant which rustles in the east, a sundial in the south, a birdbath in the west and a special stone or rock in the north.
Try to incorporate a permanent Altar, although it need not be too obvious. Whilst you do not need a large area onto which you can put a great many things, at the very least it is a good idea to have somewhere safe to place a candle, usually in a jar to protect it from the wind. This could be a small flat stone or rock. The Altar can be placed in a number of parts of the Circle, for example, the east as the point of beginning, or the centre, or the north, which is known as the place of power. Generally speaking, a rock in the centre of your area is likely to be an inconvenience, as it may well get in the way of any outdoor activities. If it is in the centre of a lawn it will cause complications when mowing, and it will almost certainly give rise to comments from friends and neighbours. So this leaves you with the choice of north or east. If you really can’t leave something permanently then try to choose something you can easily and safely move from one place to another. A small outdoor table or even a stool can make a good substitute for a rock or stone, and is much easier to move around!
Privacy is a much harder problem to overcome. If you start erecting screens in your garden, you are more likely to increase the interest of your neighbours than decrease it. If you try to grow plants which will effectively obstruct their view of you, these may well give rise to complaints about the amount of light their garden receives, not to mention cast your area into the shade. And whilst it would be nice to think that it’s none of their business what you get up to in your garden, you will still have to live alongside these people. A little eccentricity may well be tolerated, but a full-blown Witches’ gathering is almost certainly going to be too much! In reality, the only solution is to temper what you do and how you do it. So, if you are overlooked, you may have to give up ideas of working skyclad or even robed, and you may also have to consider whether Circle dancing, chanting and drumming are going to be acceptable. Of course, if you work on your own you probably don’t do all these things anyway, as solitary Craft does not require you to wave your arms or speak aloud, but do give some thought as to how you may appear to someone looking out of their window on a moonlit night. For the Witch on their own, simple screening, such as encouraging a climber or two in the direct line of sight, is often enough to give you the peace you need.
Once you have determined where and how to mark your Sacred Space you need to bless, dedicate and consecrate it. This is done in several steps. Firstly, before you start any work on the area, ask the blessing of the Goddess and the God. Secondly, as you work, dedicate your efforts to the Goddess and the God. Thirdly, perform a Ritual to consecrate the space. The best time of year to do this would be Spring, when nature is ready to put fresh effort into growth. But there is no reason why you should not commence at other seasons and continue the work thereafter. Chapter 8 gives advice on the seasonality of sowing, planting and reaping.

SEEKING THE BLESSING OF THE GODDESS AND THE GOD
Work for this should commence prior to the New Moon as you will need to collect about a pint of rainwater. If your area is very arid then try to collect water from a stream or river and bring it back to your garden. If this really is not possible then you will need to take tap water and place it in a sealed jar in the light of the Full Moon for three nights and then wait for the next New Moon to continue. You will also need to make an asperger. This is done by taking a few thin twigs about 6 to 8 inches (15 to 20 cm) in length and tying them at one end to make a sort of ‘mini-broom’. If you can, gather these twigs from fallen wood found in your own garden, otherwise collect them from a nearby wooded area.


At the New Moon, the time of fresh starts and new beginnings, take your water, asperger and some salt outside into the garden. In the centre of your future Sacred Space, kneel and call, using visualization, each of the elements coming from their appropriate directions. Next, visualize the Goddess and the God and invite them to be with you. When you are sure all is in place, take a pinch of salt and add it to the water, saying, in your head:
‘I call upon the elements and upon the Old Gods to consecrate and bless this water. May it drive out all impurities and may it bring the love of the Goddess and the God to this place. Blessed Be.’
Now with your asperger, sprinkle a little of the water around the outside edge of your Circle. Be sure to start at the north-east and to proceed deosil (clockwise) around the Circle until you have overlapped at the north-east. Return to the centre, once again visualize the Goddess and the God, and say:
‘I call upon the Goddess and the God of life and all things living, to grant that this may be a place of growth, for all the life that shall use it. May it ever be a place of joy, love and magic. May it aid me to honour the Gods and the Craft. Blessed Be.’
Remain a while and visualize the area as you hope it to be, and visualize yourself using it. When you are ready, thank the elements and the Goddess and the God. Where there is more than one of you taking part, everyone should perform the same actions, one after the other.



DEDICATING YOUR SACRED SPACE
This is not a Ritual but rather an ongoing process which takes place whilst you do the work on your Sacred Space.


Over the next two weeks, and indeed any time you need to tend your area, always start by visualizing the Goddess and the God. Ask their blessing and state that you are dedicating this work to them. An effective way of doing this is to gather any gardening tools together into the centre of your space and then to close your eyes for a moment.
Visualize the Goddess and the God and say:
‘I call upon the Old Gods to witness this work which I do in their honour. May they guide and support me in this as in all things. Blessed Be.’
Then continue your work. If you are simply making a few changes or additions to your existing garden then do not forget to tend other plants; dead-heading flowers past their best, removing dead wood or weeding between existing plants. For most people, the two weeks between the New and Full Moons will be sufficient for them to carry out the work in the garden. But if your plans are more complex, you are planting many new plants or your workload is heavier, then you may need to continue to work through the next lunar period, before consecrating your Sacred Space at a subsequent Full Moon. It is more important to be thorough than to hurry, as you are creating a permanent Sacred Space, and besides, nature, like the Goddess, takes her own time.



CONSECRATING YOUR SACRED SPACE
The ritual of Consecration could take place at the next Full Moon, but it is important that any plants have had time to establish themselves as it can be very disheartening to find that perhaps one or two specimens were not as good as you hoped and wither or die just after your Ritual! So if you are not sure they have had time to settle in it might be better to wait until the following Full Moon.


Once all is in place and you are happy that any plants are established, it is time to hold your Ritual. You will need: A small glass containing some wine or fruit juice.
Start at the east and say, either quietly or in your head:
‘I call upon the element of Air. Mighty winds and gentle breezes be present here, each in its turn and in its season. Watch over this space, those that live, work and play in it, and all that takes place in it. May the Air of thought and inspiration be ever strong here. Blessed Be.’
Move to the south and say:
‘I call upon the element of Fire. May the Sun which warms and lights all life be present here, in due course and due season. Watch over this space; those that live, work and play in it, and all that takes place in it. May the Fire of passion and enthusiasm be ever strong here. Blessed Be.’
Move to the west and say:
‘I call upon the element of Water. Great storms and gentle rains be present here, each in its turn and in its season. Watch over this space; those that live, work and play in it, and all that takes place in it. May the Water of joy and emotion be ever strong here. Blessed Be.’
Move to the north and say:
‘I call upon the element of Earth. Strong rocks and life-giving soil, be present here, in the land and in ourselves. Watch over this space; those that live, work and play in it, and all that takes place in it. May the Earth of our bodies be ever strong here. Blessed Be.’
Remain at the north point, visualize the Goddess and the God, and say:
‘I call upon the Mother Goddess, giver of life, death and rebirth. I call upon God the Hunter and Hunted, spirit of the Land. Be with this place, with all that grows here and with all who pass through it. Guide us, guard us and protect us in this and all we do. This place is Sacred to you and a marker of love to you. Blessed Be.’
Now take the glass of wine (or fruit juice), hold it up to the Goddess and the God and say:
‘This wine is my offering to the Goddess and the God. As it pours onto the earth may their love flow also into the land.’
Walk around your circle and sprinkle a little wine as you go. Try to ensure that you scatter it evenly and that you have a little left at the end. When you have completed the Circle hold the glass up once more and say:
‘As the Goddess and God sustain the land, may they likewise sustain those who work with it. Blessed Be.’
Take a small drink yourself. If you are performing this with others then you should refill the glass after going around the Circle and then pass the glass around everyone present so that they may have a sip after the ‘Blessed Be’.
Next, take a few moments to meditate and reflect on your Sacred Space and on the things you will be doing in it. Lastly, return to each of the quarters and thank the elements, but do not dismiss them, and finally thank the Goddess and the God.


Your Sacred Space is now ready for any future use. As with indoor Rituals you will still need to invoke and banish the elements, and to invite and thank the Goddess and the God, each time you use it. But their residual energies will always be present, and should enhance not only the feeling of the working space but also the health of the plants which are growing there.

CONTINUING CARE OF YOUR SACRED SPACE


It goes without saying that you cannot expect a garden, or portion thereof, to remain static. Nature is boundless, resourceful and energetic, and plants will continue to grow, whether you’ve planned it that way or not! It is therefore a good idea to set aside a little time to tend your Sacred Space on a regular basis. Many Witches I know like to do this just before the Full Moon and the Sabbats. Not only is this just before they intend to use it and hence leaves it in the best possible condition for their Rituals, but they are also, for the practising Witch, easy times to remember.
I find that one of the most difficult aspects in tending the outdoor Sacred Space lies not so much in finding the time to plant and grow, but in finding the strength of mind to uproot and cut back. It can easily seem somehow ungrateful to take away the excess growth! However, you do have to be fairly firm, as a garden allowed to run riot will quickly turn into a wild place where some species, like mint, can take over to the detriment of slower-growing, less prolific species. Many plants have special requirements and there is certainly no room in a book like this to list them all, but as a general rule of thumb, Spring and Autumn are the best seasons for major pruning and trimming. Many gardeners recommend doing your major trimming in the Spring, as this gives the plant the benefit of improving weather to re-establish itself. However, it is worth mentioning that a good prune in the Autumn after the plant has flowered and seeded, can give it a good chance to show its best in Summer and to rest over the Winter, as well as the ability to produce a healthy new generation of seedlings for the following year. Privet is a good example of this as a Spring prune often results in no flowers, whereas an Autumn one allows the plant to flower. Furthermore, Autumn pruning is less likely to disturb nesting birds.


Whenever you tend your Sacred Space, follow the same approach as you did above for dedicating it. Indeed, any part of working on your garden or home will benefit from the same approach, as dedicating your work to the Goddess and the God has the effect of making the task easier to complete and more effective.

USING YOUR OUTDOOR SACRED SPACE


The drawbacks of an outdoor working space are easy to understand. Unless you are very fortunate in your climate, the weather is likely to play a major part in determining whether it is reasonable to work outside. This is not only because it is hard to maintain focus in the pouring rain or strong wind, but also because you will be that much more conspicuous to any observers if you spend time outside in inclement conditions. The advantages, though, are well worth the effort of developing and maintaining one. Having your own outdoor space means that when you feel the need to be closer to nature you do not have to seek out a working area on public land, with all its attendant complications, such as dog walkers, stray policemen, etc. Nor do you have to carry any tools or equipment for miles. Your space is there for you, whenever you need it, and conveniently close to hand.
As has been mentioned elsewhere in this book, Witches tend to work their magic at the Full Moons and celebrate the festivals or Sabbats. Some will also work at other lunar phases, especially the New Moon. An outdoor Sacred Space is particularly good for celebrating the Sabbats, as these are closely linked to the passage of the seasons. It is always going to be far easier to feel in tune with the seasons when you can see, hear, feel, smell and even taste them all around you. At Imbolg, for example, you are not just thinking of the buds on the trees, you can see them. For this reason a good many Witches who use an outdoor space will celebrate the major Sabbats at the times of the seasonal markers, rather than on the calendar dates they have subsequently been given. So Imbolg would be held when the first buds or lambs are seen, Beltane when the hawthorn (or may) blossoms, Lughnasadh when the first of the harvest is coming in and Samhain when the first storms of Winter arrive.
Many people still have the image of Witches working at the dead of night. This has been so in the past for fear of discovery and today is often so with a group or Coven as it is the time when daily life is complete and everyone is free. But Witches on their own do not need to wait for darkness to fall, they can work whenever suits them. With an outdoor space you can perform your magic at any time of day.
An outdoor Sacred Space is particularly good for working magic relating to the cycles of nature; for spells affecting fertility, plants, animals and healing. All these benefit from, and are stronger for being worked close to the land. As mentioned above, when working outside you do not need to summon the elements in the same way as you would for an indoor Ritual. Nor will you need representations of them on your Altar, as they are all around. It is enough to turn to face each quarter and call upon the elements in turn, making sure that you recall each one’s personal associations as well as the external ones. You then invite the Goddess and the God as usual. Of course it is still important to remember at the end of your Ritual to thank all the elements and deities which you have called.
An outdoor Sacred Space is also useful for other magical steps which may not be a part of a spell or Ritual. When you need to place something in the light of the Full Moon, then the centre of your space is an excellent place to put it, so long as you remember to remove it before any children or pets can interfere. The centre is also a good spot to place any poorly plants which you intend to nurse back to health. Of course this latter, like many Craft activities, should be tempered with common sense. There is no use putting a sensitive tropical houseplant out into the Winter’s snow and expecting it to thrive!

A HEALING SPELL FOR PLANTS
There are very few Witches or gardeners around who do not, sooner or later, have a poorly plant or two. It is important firstly to ensure that any obvious causes have been addressed: if you have been away for two weeks and the poor thing received no water, then water it; if it is infested with some kind of parasite then remove the offending bugs and so on. But once these practical steps have been addressed then it is time to use magic to help it on its way back to health.


At some point during the Waxing Moon take your plant to your Sacred Space, place it either in the centre or upon your Altar. You will also need a small amount of rainwater in a shallow dish or bowl.
Call upon the quarters, starting with the east; saying:
‘I call thee O element of Air, to give your healing strength to this (name the plant) … Blessed Be.’
Then move to the south, west and north calling upon Fire, Water and Earth, respectively. Now stand facing the north and invite the Goddess and the God, saying:
‘I call upon the Goddess, Mother of all living, and the God, Lord of the Land to aid me in healing this (name of plant) … Lend your strength to it and watch over it, that it might flourish in your name.’
Wait until you can clearly visualize their presence, then say:
‘Blessed Be.’
You can either use the names of the Goddess and God which you most favour working with, or you could use those with particular associations for the plant in question.
Now take the water and draw an invoking Pentagram (#litres_trial_promo) in it with your finger or Athame [see Terms and Definitions], then hold it up to the Goddess and the God and say:
‘May this water be blessed and consecrated by the Gods. May it purify and heal this plant. Blessed Be.’
With your fingertips sprinkle a little of the water over the plant’s foliage and then pour the remainder into the soil around it. Thank the elements by going back to each quarter, starting with the east as before, and saying:
‘I give thanks to thee O element of Air. May your strength ever watch over this place. Blessed Be.’
Repeat for the south, west and north. Then, facing the north, visualize the Goddess and the God and say:
‘I give thanks to the Goddess and the God for aiding me. May their light ever shine here and on all that dwells in this place. Blessed Be.’
Assuming that the weather is clement, or reasonably so, leave the plant there for three days and nights before returning it to a suitable location.
If the plant is not in a pot then you will need to take a small cutting or sprig into the Circle with you, so that it is represented there. Consecrate and bless the water as above but keep it on the Altar until your Ritual is completed. Then take the water out of the Circle to the plant and sprinkle and water as above.


Of course, not everyone’s celebration of the Craft takes the form of active Circle work, but there are other ways we can bring nature into our magic and magic into nature.



FOUR THE GARDEN FOR THE GODDESS AND THE GOD (#ulink_aa174e3a-539f-536a-a4fd-ddb629d808fc)


In the Craft we believe that there are many facets of the Divine. Individual Goddess and God forms have different attributes and characteristics, such as Aphrodite Goddess of Love, Mercury God of Communication, Herne Lord of the Forest, Cerridwyn Goddess of Wisdom, and many, many more. All of them, however, are linked to the cycles of life, death and rebirth, and all are in some way linked to nature and the land. Thus it is through nature, the plants, trees and herbs, etc, that we can become closer to them; closer to understanding their nature and more able to connect with them. Just as there are many Goddesses and Gods there are many ways of celebrating them within your garden – even a single plant can be your offering to the Divine. Chapter 10 lists some plants which are linked to different aspects of the Goddess and the God. But you can also dedicate a corner, or even the whole space, to a design which will help you to develop a closer relationship.


The first step is to decide which aspects of the Divine you intend to honour in the space you have available to you. If you have been practising the Craft for a while, you will already be aware of the Goddess and God forms to which you feel closest. You may even have some idea of how you would like to do this. However, you may prefer to honour the Divine in a less specific way, simply having an area set aside for meditation and contemplation of them in general. There are many shapes which are linked to the Divine and which can be introduced into your plans, such as the spiral, the triple moon
, tall phallic shapes for the God of fertility, and even animal shapes such as the deer, hare, cat, etc.
This part of your garden then becomes a place where not only can you contemplate your Gods, but also a place where you can get away from the hustle and bustle of daily life; a place where you can go to meditate, or just to relax and unwind.

PLANNING THE AREA


In my garden I have plans to introduce a spiral walkway of flat stones into one of the beds. The spiral is an ancient symbol of the Goddess, and can be found carved into many monoliths, cave walls and even pieces of jewellery. It is felt that the spiral represents the path both inwards and outwards to enlightenment and truth. Today, you will often find spiral paths created at Pagan and Wiccan events so that we too can follow this ancient tradition. My garden walkway will serve the dual purpose of giving me easier access to the plants in this space as well as providing a contemplative walk. Designing and crafting a spiral on the ground is not easy, but perhaps the best method is to map it out on squared paper and then to place a grid (use string tied to sticks placed in the ground) over the area you intend to use, so that you can repeat your design. It is common to find at the centre of the spiral a destination, perhaps a fountain, a sundial or a flat rock for sitting on. Alternatively, you can place your most meaningful, or loved, plant at this point. Of course it is not necessary to have a spiral large enough to walk on, you could just as easily use pebbles in a small container which you can trace with your finger or eye. Around this you might like to plant one of the smaller scented herbs such as a miniature thyme or even some alpines. It is worth mentioning that, contrary to the beliefs of some, the spiral is not just a symbol of the Goddess as Crone, although that is sometimes its primary attribution. It also symbolizes the Triple Goddess and some aspects of the God in terms of the cycles of life, death and rebirth.
I also know of someone who hopes to convert their whole lawn into a triple moon, but it is not necessary for this shape to take over your whole garden. The
can be incorporated into flower beds, or with a little ingenuity you could divide it into its three sections and, by placing one in each of three pots, have a triple moon which can be lined up. When it comes to defining shapes in the ground you can use stones or pebbles, wood shavings (although do make sure they come from a good source) or even other plants to define the edges. If you are using plants to create shapes try to select ones which do not grow rampantly; mint, for example, can take over a whole garden if left to its own devices! A better choice would be some of the low level annuals and/or bedding plants; lobelia is one which I find relatively easy to train and control.
These days it is relatively easy to introduce animal shapes into the garden as many garden centres sell pre-formed woven wicker shapes which are intended for use in training climbing plants such as ivy, jasmine, honeysuckle, clematis and so on. These come in a variety of sizes, from those intended to support shrubs and bushes to ones small enough to be placed in a pot with the plant of your choice. Alternatively, if you are artistic, you can draw these shapes in the ground and then ‘colour in’ with the plants of your choice.
Some Witches prefer the idea of creating a number of small ‘shrines’ to different Goddesses and Gods. These can be fairly elaborate with statues and areas to place candles and offerings, or they can be simpler. One idea is to select a plant specific to each Goddess or God you wish to honour in this way, and to place before each of these plants a fairly small marker stone, which can be used to place a nightlight on at the times when you wish to interact with or commune with that deity.
An alternative idea is to simply create a quiet corner, where it is possible to sit in peace and to meditate. If you can, try to place this in such a way that the intended view is of plants and trees, rather than the house or road, which can easily distract your thoughts. You may find that you have to plant something in your direct line of sight to achieve this. Near to where I live there is a wild flower and wildlife centre which has a chamomile seat which would be ideal for this purpose. They have created a raised ‘box’ from logs and placed willow ‘arms’ and a ‘back’ to form a chair. The seat is sown with chamomile and the willow has been allowed to root into the ground. The willow is kept regularly trimmed and woven back into shape, so that the seat can actually be sat upon. I feel, however, that this is probably an idea for the gardener who has plenty of time to devote to tending just one part of the garden. Having said that, there is no reason why you should not create an archway around an existing piece of furniture, or around a space where you can place your chair, or cushion. Pre-formed bamboo arches are ideal for this purpose, and can be used to support climbing plants. You can even do this indoors, linking two pots with the arch and training the plants to meet in the middle, so long as you are sure that you will be able to leave the plants in position.
It is worth mentioning here that, when dealing with climbers, you do need to be patient. It is tempting to encourage them upwards as fast as you can, but you will get a better effect by training them backwards and forwards in horizontal zig-zags, so that the foliage is fairly dense all the way up. Otherwise you can end up surrounded by the stems, with the leaves and flowers all being over your head!
Of course, a quiet corner does not have to take the form of a seat or bower. Another of my projects is to create a crescent-moon-shaped bed, raised perhaps 6 to 9 inches (15 to 25 cm) above the surrounding soil, so that I can create an area of tranquillity within it. I plan to plant the upper surface of the bed with some of the taller, traditional ‘cottage garden’ plants such as hollyhock, delphiniums, foxgloves, etc. This will not entirely preclude the surrounding sights and sounds but will mean that when seated on the ground, I am in the midst of the plants. As I also hope to attract butterflies, bees and other wildlife I shall also include plants such as buddleia and, against the nearby fence, wisteria. To enhance the relaxation element of the area, and because it is significant to my region, I shall include lavender. As this is to be an area with little ‘traffic’ I intend to plant a thyme or chamomile ‘lawn’ in the centre of the crescent. In the past, when my space has been limited, I have kept some plants in pots which can be arranged around me when I need a place of quiet, and again you can utilize this idea within the home.
Obviously, when choosing the site of your quiet area, you will need to take into account the layout of your garden, and the place most likely to be relatively quiet, but it is always useful to seek the guidance and blessing of the Gods.

SEEKING THE BLESSING OF THE GODDESS AND THE GOD
Before you seek the guidance and blessing of the Gods make, buy or seek out an offering for them. This could be a circle of plaited grasses, a single flower head, or perhaps a significantly shaped stone you have found on a walk. It could be a plant you have raised especially for the purpose. It need not be expensive, but should be something which has required you to make a special effort. Offerings to the Old Ones should always entail a sacrifice of time or effort. Of course, your major offering in any garden-related project will be the ongoing time and effort you place into creating and maintaining that area, but this will be a token of that effort.


At a time when you will be undisturbed, take your token out into your garden, close your eyes and visualize the Goddess and the God. Call upon them and ask them to guide you to a place of peace and tranquillity saying:
‘I call upon the Goddess and the God. Lord and Lady I seek a place in which to know you, a place in which to understand you. Show me the way, that I might draw closer to you in peace and love. Give me an open heart and a fresh mind that I might see your way. Blessed Be.’
Holding their image in your mind, turn slowly around three times and open your eyes. Look over the whole of your garden with these thoughts in your head and you will surely be able to see the best location for your new space. If you are considering placing your area indoors use the same invocation to help you to determine the best place. Once you have found the right spot, walk to it, close your eyes again and say:
‘I give thanks to the Goddess and the God for showing me the way. I undertake to work and tend this place in their name in gratitude for their love, and in token of this I make this offering. Blessed Be.’
Place your token in the centre of the area. If you have a particular deity or deities in mind then you can call upon these by name and choose your offering specifically with them in mind.


I find it useful to mark off any area I am about to work on with a few canes tied together with string. This has the effect of alerting my young son and his friends that this is not a play area, thus allowing me a clear working space and giving any plants time to establish themselves. It also encourages me to get on with the job, as sticks and string make it obvious that work has not been completed!
Having located your quiet area you need to work on it and to Dedicate it.

DEDICATING THE AREA
As with the preceding chapter, dedication is more of a process than an event. Remember to visualize the Goddess and the God every time you work on the area, and ask them to help you. Apart from the aspect of making the place special to them, any task dedicated to the Gods benefits from their energies and will therefore be easier and more successful. Try to leave one small, last task in the preparation of your area for your rite of dedication. Perhaps a last prune or trim, or maybe the placing of a single plant or object.

CONSECRATING THE AREA
Once you have set up your area to your satisfaction then you will want to consecrate it. It is best to do this at the Full Moon and at the time of day when you feel you are most likely to be using the site for meditation, contemplation or just to be closer to nature and the Gods. For some this will be early evening, but it could just as easily be any other time of the day. For me this is in the morning, after the ‘school run’ but before I actually start working, as I find that a few moments with the Gods both clears the mind and helps to inspire me.


Take with you into the area some water in a suitable watering vessel, a chalice with a little wine, or fruit juice, and any tools you may need for that last small task which you saved. Place all these to one side of your area, settle yourself down and compose yourself. If it is safe to do so, remove your shoes and go barefoot, so that you are in actual contact with the earth. Spend a few minutes in silent contemplation of both the area and the Goddess and the God. I find it helps to focus on my breathing for a couple of moments before I start, as this helps me to concentrate on what I am about to do.
Picture the Goddess and the God actually being present with you, and imagine them moving through the area, smelling and touching the plants. When you can see this clearly in your mind’s eye, call upon them saying:
‘I welcome the Lord and Lady to this place, which I have planted and tended in their honour.’
Next, complete your reserved task saying:
‘As I take this last step towards completing this space, may they witness my care for the land and all living.’
As you finish this last step, say:
‘Blessed Be.’
Now take the water in its vessel and, holding it in both hands, say:
‘I call upon the Goddess and the God to bless and consecrate this water, may they nourish and care for this place, even as this water nourishes these plants.’
Sprinkle a little onto all the plants in your space and then say:
‘Blessed Be.’
Next take the wine, or fruit juice, hold it up to the Goddess and the God and say:
‘May the Lord and Lady bless and consecrate this wine. May they continue to guard, guide and protect me, even as they do so for the earth and all that lives upon it. Blessed Be.’
Take a sip of the wine and pour a little on the earth. Don’t pour it too close to a growing plant, as it won’t drink fruit juice or alcohol! If you are doing this for an indoor area, you might like to take a drop or two on the tips of your fingers and just transfer it to the soil. Thank the Goddess and the God by saying:
‘I give thanks to the Goddess and the God for being with me. May I ever walk in their ways. Blessed Be.’
Lastly, remain and contemplate your space, perhaps finishing the rest of the drink.



CONTINUING CARE


Unlike the Sacred Space described in the preceding chapter, there are no particular times when you are more likely to use your area of contemplation. It could be daily, monthly or whenever you feel the need. As a result you will not have a lunar- or calendar-driven reminder to tend it. As I use mine nearly every day, it is a simple matter to take a look around and tend to any small jobs there each time I visit it. This way there’s rarely much that needs attention. If your visits are likely to be less frequent you may need to set yourself a regular date on which to check if there are things which need tidying, watering, weeding, pruning, etc. However, in common with the Sacred Space you should always remember to call upon the Goddess and the God when working on the area, and let them guide you and aid your efforts.

USING THE SPACE
Having created a quiet and tranquil part of your garden there is no limit to the ways you might use it. As mentioned before it can simply be a place where you go to take a few breaths of air and to set yourself up for the day. It might be a place of refuge where you leave behind the hectic technological world, a sanctuary from TV, the phone and the computer! Mine is a place where I remind myself daily that the Goddess and the God are all around us and that the earth is the true home of the Craft. But there are other, more formal things you can do.
Meditation and pathworking are two techniques Witches use to draw closer to the Goddess and the God, and to seek the answers to questions. Meditation is a technique of stilling the mind by focussing on a single item or concept, and a space dedicated to the Gods is an excellent place for this. Pathworking is a form of guided meditation whereby you follow a story to a deity or destination where you are given the opportunity to ask a question and receive guidance; again your area is ideal for this.
An area dedicated to the Goddess and the God is special in its own right and, if private enough, a place to perform a self-blessing. The Rite of Self-Blessing can be performed whenever you feel tired, frustrated or just in need of a lift of the spirits. Those of you who have read my other books may already be familiar with a version of it, but for those of you who haven’t, please read on.


Take a small bowl with some water into your area. Bless the water by drawing an invoking Pentagram (#litres_trial_promo)

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